I am gathering information on how people felt/feel at diagnosis (of diabetes). You can read the whole post on my blog, or share your word here (one word that describes how you felt when you were diagnosed). I'd love to hear from you!

Happy Father's Day to all the "diabetes dads": dads with diabetes, dads who have kids with diabetes, and those who take care of their dad with diabetes.

My dad and I had a special diabetes relationship. Every three months Dad took me to the hospital for my "fasting" blood draw. Then we went out for breakfast and he took me to school (late). He would pick me up again a few hours later and take me back to the hospital for my "non-fasting" blood draw and appointment with my…

I made a list of the diabetes-related organizations I would support financially if I won the Mega Millions. I realize the list is missing many; who would you support?http://www.janekdickinson.com/?p=585

Especially those who live in areas where fresh produce is not readily available, where do you buy good veggies (and fruit)? I live in a place where the growing season is 45 days. I'm considering a CSA - does anyone have experience with these? Please visit my blog for more http://www.janekdickinson.com/?p=550

Failure is a routine part of managing diabetes. How's that for a downer intro? But it's true, at least if we are striving for perfection. Even if we are only striving for mediocrity, we fail to achieve that at times, because our bodies fail us. For some, the pancreas just doesn't make enough (if any) insulin; for others, the cells don't respond to insulin the way they are supposed to; for most, their genetic make-up set them up for failure.

I guess it just dawned on me that the race is really on for the artificial pancreas. I listened to a webinar the other day about one group's work on it. Yesterday I was looking at a conference agenda, where another group's artificial pancreas will be discussed. And I just read an article about a artificial pancreas (scroll down to the third section) that is working on one as well. There are…

We used to say this at diabetes camp years ago: "pigs are precious." That was because our "purified pork" insulin came from pigs. A long time ago, beef (cow) insulin was the best we had, but many people had physical reactions to it. When pork insulin came out, it was hailed as being so close to human insulin that we would no longer have reactions to it. Some still did. The human body can't always be tricked! As I've mentioned before,…

I realized, while walking my dog today, that training a dog and managing diabetes have some things in common. Up until about a week ago, I thought my dog really got the whole process. He went out in the morning, did his thing, then went out again around mid-day and once more at night. He was eating two meals a day with a few treats scattered in there.

Then about a week ago, for no apparent reason, he stopped eating breakfast and started going out at random times with or without…

I’ve waited for this for a long time. Several years ago (I believe it was 2004), I was a facilitator at an education program for families of kids with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes. I will never forget listening to a physician give a talk on kidney disease. She presented horrifying statistics about how many kids with diabetes would grow up to be adults with kidney disease. Someone asked if those stats weren’t decreasing since intensive diabetes management had become the norm and she said NO.… Continue

Question #9 (the last one): If you could predict the future, how do you think you will do with diabetes? If the response is positive, add: How can you make this happen? If the response is negative, add: How can you avoid this?

I am very confident that I am going to do very well. I plan to live to be at least 85 years old and I have no idea what will take me, but I don’t think it will be diabetes-related. I do have worries about being in a nursing home, because I…

One way that people with diabetes can discuss the emotional impact of their disease is to tell their "diabetes story." I found nine questions in an article recently, that can help people tell their "diabetes story."

Question #1: What do you remember about your diagnosis? Before, during, and after.

I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes on a sunny day in June. I… Continue

“There are lots of people who think they are sick and who are not sick.” – Dr. Charlie Mayo

People with diabetes are not sick. We are healthy people who happen to have a chronic condition. I get so frustrated when I see research studies advertising for “healthy subjects” and I am not considered “healthy.” I am discouraged when I get the impression that schools or employers or other agencies consider people with diabetes “sick.”

From the Diabetes Hands Foundation blog...

Diabetes Hands Foundation is incredibly honored to join the Diabetes Advocacy Alliance, an organization with the drive and potential to affect a powerful, positive impact on diabetes and healthcare policy. Diabetes Advocacy Alliance is a 20-member coalition of leading professional Read on! →

HELMSLEY CHARITABLE TRUST GRANTS SUPPORT TO DIABETES HANDS FOUNDATION FOR FOURTH YEAR Funding in 2015 to support major transitions in programs and leadership at Diabetes Hands Foundation BERKELEY, CA: February 18, 2015 – The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Read on! →